It’s fantastic to have the top model of a car stereo with a digital display. You can see all the information you need regarding the music you are listening to, the navigation route you have to follow, and more.
The problem comes in when these fantastic pieces of technology just stop working. Read on to find out why and how to fix this.
If your car radio display isn’t working, the most common reason is the blown fuse. However, if the fuse is not the problem, it can be a faulty dimmer switch, connection issues between the radio and the car’s electrical system, a malfunctioning display unit or its bad connection with the stereo, or a problem with the car’s battery or alternator.
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Tip: The most common reason for car radios not working can be blown or defective fuse, or faulty illumination wires. If this is the reason in your case, you may need to start the repair by replacing the defective fuse in your stereo. Check out my favorite car audio fuses on Amazon.com now.
Let’s look at why your car’s radio screen won’t work and all the possible reasons that could impact it. These reasons are not always as dreadful as you may think, and most of them can be cured with little effort.
Car Stereo Display Overview
Today, car radios have come leaps and bounds from the heavy, mechanical, and manual radios of the 1950s that only offered an AM//FM stereo with frequency and volume knobs.
Nowadays, most head units almost seem like you can launch a rocket into outer space with the great infotainment systems having digital displays, voice control, wireless capability, navigation, finding areas of interest, streaming from the net, and more.
However, there is a caveat when it comes to this fantastic technology. Because everything is based on computers and circuitry, there is a lot more room for errors and malfunctions to occur.
You could roll vintage car stereo down a hill, and it would still be perfectly fine. However, if you have a cold and sneeze in the direction of your $500 Double Din aftermarket infotainment system, and it is not set up correctly, it won’t function.
Why My Stereo Display Does Not Work?
When you are wondering why is your car radio display not working, do not worry. There are not many things that can be wrong.
Let’s first take a look at the most common problem that car stereos face when they do not turn on, and then we will go through an adequate solution.
What Are the Main Car Radio Display Problems?
The most common fault that most car radios experience is that of a faulty fuse. Remember that a fuse is designed to be the weakest link in a circuit.
This means that if something goes wrong (like a short to ground), the dedicated fuse will take the brunt of the damage and burn out hopefully before any severe damage can be incurred by your car or any equipment that the circuit was connected to.
If you have not assumed it already, this will be one fix that you can apply to your head unit and could cause the display screen not to turn on, and I will explain it in detail below.
Other Reasons Why the Display of My Car Stereo Is Not Working
When a fuse is blown, not only car display does not work, but the whole radio does not function. If however, your radio works but the screen remains blank, you will need to consider a few other factors when determining why your car stereo display is not working correctly.
Your display could be suffering from one or many of these factors, and they include:
- The dimmer is not adjusted properly or is faulty
- There is a problem with your car stereo connectors
- The main head unit (stereo) is defective
- The backlight of the unit is defective
- The LCD screen is defective
Keep in mind that a blown fuse is also part of this checklist that you will need to go over when determining the car stereo display’s fault.
5 Ways to Fix Your Car Radio When the Display Does Not Work
When your car stereo is new and you have a warranty, the easiest solution is to take the stereo to the retailer, and they will fix it. The more complicated situations are when your radio is older with the warranty expired.
Keep in mind that all cars are different, and all car systems are different, including a car audio system. I have outlined the basic principles and the most common cause that are usually at fault with these problems’ solutions.
#1. Check the Dimmer Setting or Check the Illumination Wire.
Most modern car stereos with a digital display screen have a dimmer function, and this will be connected to the radio via the illumination wire.
If you are interested in car stereo wiring, check out my other article on Why My Car Radio won’t Turn Off.
Sometimes, the car stereo display is too bright, and when the radio does not have a day/night display function, most drivers including me, prefer to turn down the display brightness (especially at night).
The solution for this is two-fold. If the dimmer is turned down, then you will just have to adjust the setting and turn up the brightness. Usually, the dimmer works in tandem with the volume know, and this is how you will change it.
However, there will first be a setting that you have to choose in order to select the dimmer function mode.
If this doesn’t work, then there may be a problem with the illumination wire (it may be broken or loose), and if you remove the radio and check the wiring, you will be looking for an orange or orange/black wire.
Going through how to rewire a car stereo is beyond this article’s scope but check out my other article on How To Wire Car Speakers To The Radio Without The Harness, where I cover car audio wiring.
#2. Check the Car Radio Connectors
Your car radio is not one solid part. This means that the display is separate from the actual radio unit. Wires and connectors are used to link them together, which means that there could be a problem with the wires, especially in those points:
- Soldered connection points
- Mechanical connection points
Depending on which connection type you have for your display unit, a few elements could cause the problem.
Removing the display from the car stereo could be a bit of an issue if you do not consider yourself a DIY individual. The process is not too complicated and well explained in the short video below.
In some instances, and depending on your head unit model and display like some of the models from Sony, removing the LCD display is very easy.
If there are mechanical connectors (something similar to a harness) that are broken or damaged in any way, and you think this could be the cause of the problem, it may be possible to purchase those connectors from a repair shop. Otherwise, you will have to take it in and let them source the parts for you.
If your display has soldering joints, you can see that a soldering point or wire has come loose and you, again, are comfortable with a little DIY, then all you need to do is solder it back together correctly.
Take note that you use different types of solder for various connection points and circuit boards, though.
#3. Check All Brightness Settings and Reset the Radio
If your display is completely turned off, then you may not be able to attempt this fix.
However, if the display is dimmed down and you still have power, then the first thing you should do is check your user manual and go through all the settings and presets that your radio offers to try to find brightness settings that could be used to adjust your radio back to normal.
#4. Check for a Problem with Head Unit, Backlight, or LCD
Suppose you have already gone through all the steps and procedures that I have laid out for you, such as checking the dimmer, checking the illumination wire, checking settings and presets, trying to reboot the system, and checking the fuses. In that case, there may be an issue with one of three things with your car radio.
- It could be that your main unit is faulty
- The backlight of the display is defective
- The LCD itself is flawed
In a situation like this, the only option you have is to take it in for repair (if it can be repaired). Otherwise, if you have a service plan or an aftermarket radio with a warranty, you should be able to replace it without any hassles.
I went through this scenario many years ago and based on this experience, I wrote an article about refurbished car radios.
#5. Check the Fuse of the Car Radio
The main reason the car radio display may not be working is because of a bad fuse. I already touched on this briefly because it is the most common car stereo (radios) problem.
Checking a fuse is also the cheapest and best way to repair your car radio because a fuse is meant to be replaceable.
Furthermore, the fuses used for your radio and other electronics within your car are relatively cheap to replace. Seriously, you can get an entire box of fuses (that’s over 250 fuses) from Amazon.
With this kit, you will never have to worry about another fuse blowing in your car, probably for the rest of your life, unless you have a problem that persists and keeps blowing your fuses.
Where Do I Find the Fuse for My Car Radio?
Although easy to replace, you may have a problem finding the defective fuse in the first place.
In older cars, the fuse would be placed on the radio, so you would have to take out the entire stereo to get to the back of it just to replace the fuse.
Sometimes this meant having to take off part or most of the dashboard. If this is the case for your car and stereo model, then this might be a hassle, and you may have to take it to an automotive repair shop.
However, if you do not have trouble getting your hands dirty and are used to a little DIY, you should be fine. The only thing you will need is a few hours of free time.
Luckily with most modern cars, the car radio fuses are located in the fuse box with all the other fuses that are grouped together. Typically you can find this box on the dashboard close to the steering wheel or under the hood.
How Do I Know Which Fuse I Need to Replace?
The fuse box will have a lid, and branded on the underside of it will be either a picture or some form of engraved stencil, and on that picture, you will see the list of fuses associated with specific names (these are its codes).
These names indicated which fuses are for which car parts and systems. You would need to look for the fuse (code) name that says either Room, Accessories, Interior Lights, or Radio and check if that fuse is blown and then replace it with a new one your car radio should work and display correctly.
You may be wondering why some of those code names don’t refer to the radio. Sometimes manufacturers have combined circuits in your vehicle, and the fuse used for your radio will also be used for your interior lights. In general, you should replace any fuse you will find that is blown.
How to Replace the Fuse?
If the short to ground has affected the circuit of the radio and caused a surge of current, then the fuse may be blown, and all you will have to do is follow the steps we laid out for you in the section above.
However, take note that you need to make sure any liquid that was spilled or mistakenly got into the wiring is cleaned up and the wiring plus the connection points and connectors are dry.
What to Do When My Car Stereo Has Power but Not Display?
In the instance where your radio is still working, but there is no display, then one scenario could be that a setting or the dimmer was turned down all the way. In this case, you can try resetting your car radio to the factory settings.
This is slightly different from adjusting the dimmer and checking functions and settings on your car radio. Most radios, if not all due to their complicated nature, will have a reset button.
A reset button is usually found behind the removed faceplate of the radio. You will typically need something long and thin to get to the reset button, like a needle or a pen. Just remember that if you reset the radio, you will lose all saved data.
Why Is Car Touch Screen Not Working After Cleaning?
Water or moisture is the main problem that many people face after cleaning the radio screen.
The screen stops working when the liquid gets behind the LCD and short circuits the connection between the display and the radio unit.
If you cleaned your screen with water and it still works, you are in luck. And the only thing you would need to do is make sure the connection point and wires that sit between your display and the radio unit are dry.
The better way to clean car touch screen is to use a soft microfiber cloth and clean off any dirt, dust, or fingerprints on the screen.
Using even a paper towel will cause scratches on the touchscreen, so do not do that.
Why Is My Car Radio Touch Screen Not Responding?
The touchscreen is only fun when it’s fully responsive. Otherwise, your car radio does not function.
It often happens that touchscreens in car radios lose responsiveness, and there are two main reasons why this happens:
- Dirt or dust on the screen blocks its direct contact with your fingers, causing the touchscreen to be unresponsive. To avoid this, clean the screen regularly with a microfiber cloth and do not touch the screen with dirty hands.
- Another reason for the screen not to respond is when it loses its calibration. For example, you have to re-calibrate your touch screen if you notice it does not respond to your fingers or register the touch when your finger is in an “offset” to the icon you need to touch.
Why Is My Car Radio Display Fading?
When the LCD car screen is fading, there is a problem with either connection of the flat wire or with the liquid screen itself.
It is a common problem, especially in the one-din head units, but the fix is easy but not always possible at home.
Car radio screens start to fade over time because the internal connections become loose or when the screen is mechanically damaged, for example, when it is pressed using too much finger pressure.
Repair of the fading screen is not always possible. To find the reason, you have to remove the screen, clean all flat wire connections, and solder it back to its original position.
If that does not help, it means you have to replace a screen with the new one.
Screen replacement in car radios is not the easiest task. If you are not a DYI or do not have much experience with electronic repairs, it is better to give the radio to a professional.
Is it worth repairing the display? It depends on the radio type, and if this is an expensive model, then definitely yes. On the other hand, if your radio is not too costly or not the new one, it is better and cheaper to replace it with the new one.
Why Is the Android Radio Touch Screen Not Working?
When your android touch screen has stopped working, in most cases, it means that it has frozen. So you can touch it at any point, and it will not respond.
The solution for this is relatively easy.
- First, you have to put all your fingers on the screen and hold it for a couple of seconds.
- Then, the screen will come to the re-calibration mode, and it will reset.
- When it does, you will see on the screen the information, press the “Okay” button, and it will be back to normal.
Why Car Radio Screen Went Black?
Screens in the car radios can randomly go black after connecting additional equipment like the backup camera or reinstalling the software.
If the screen is not broken and is working fine but suddenly lost its screen, the simplest way to fix it is to press the reset button and hold it depending on the radio for between 5 and 10 seconds.
After that, most screens come back to normal functioning.
If the display panel on the car stereo receiver is dim or does not light, the connectors may need to be cleaned, or a mode setting needs to be adjusted.
Another problem can occur when the radio works, but it has internal screen damage. To fix this, you have to either disassemble the radio, remove the screen, measure the electrical resistance on all connections, or give the radio to a professional.
Why Is My Radio Screen Dim?
The dimmer setting allows dimming the display and buttons at night, so it does not have to be as bright as during the day.
Dimmer on the head unit can be set manually, synchronized to the clock, or activated with your car lights, and most display problems are related to the last option when the radio has to be connected to the car lights.
If the display is too dim with the brightness set to the highest level, the dimmer could be activated. Your radio may be equipped with a separate brightness setting for when the dimmer mode is activated.
This can also happen if the car sends an incorrect signal to the radio indicating that the car lights are on and the display should be dimmed.
To solve this problem, you should manually switch the dimmer off or set the dimmed brightness to the maximum level.
If, after changing the settings on your radio, the display is still too dim or too bright, the radio may be faulty, and you may need to contact the repair service of the radio manufacturer.
Conclusion
It’s all good and well that nowadays you can purchase the most fantastic car radio with a superb display that can achieve incredible things.
However, compared to older, more robust car stereos, the risk of something getting damaged or not working correctly is a real issue and one you will have to face if you are not willing to take it to an automotive repair shop.
Furthermore, there are quite a few factors that could be at the root of this problem. However, most of them are not severe, and they can be rectified without the need to take your car in so your radio can be repaired.
I have covered these issues, and they include a faulty illumination wire, an incorrect dimming mode or setting, and a bad fuse.
The last thing to note is that if you have gone through all the steps I have provided, and your car stereo display is still not working, you will most likely have to take it to a professional service to figure out what the problem is.
FAQ
How to Reset Car Touch Screen?
Resetting a touch screen requires turning the radio off and turn on again after around 3 seconds. This should bring the screen to its default settings.
Some car radios have a hard reset button that you must press and hold for around 10 seconds. This will usually be located in the menu or settings of the radio.
If you can’t find the reset button, you can also try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and reconnecting. This is called a hard reset.
After resetting the touch screen, you may need to calibrate it. You can usually do this by going into the menu or settings of the radio and finding the calibration option.
Calibrating a touch screen is important because it helps the radio accurately register your touches.
If you don’t calibrate the screen, you might find that it’s unresponsive or that your touches are inaccurate.
Why My Touch Screen Radio Has White Screen?
Instead of seeing the main menu or the images on the screen when they switch on the radio, you can see a white screen.
Don’t be scared because this doesn’t necessarily mean the stereo is damaged; in most cases, you can fix this in a few simple steps.
#1. Reset the radio.
If you see a white screen the first time you turn the stereo on, switch it off and see if its peripheral power supply voltage is nominal, then switch it on again.
#2. Ensure the radio is connected correctly.
If the car stereo with GPS still shows a white screen after switching it on for the second or third time, you may need to check if the peripheral receptacle is placed correctly.
Also, ensure that the plugs have been tightly inserted into the sockets.
#3. Reinstall the stereo.
If the problem continues, remove the DVD player from your dashboard and reinstall it again.
Re-plug the cables and ensure they are correctly connected, especially the wires between the front panel and the central unit.
If none of the above solves the problem and your radio still have a white screen, it is advisable to take it to the nearest service centre for diagnosis.
It is also possible that the problem lies in the LCD panel and would require a replacement.
Why Is My Car Screen Flickering?
Screen in car radios are flickering, often caused by loose power wiring and, in rare cases, a loose fuse location in the fuse block.
Other than those main reasons, the car radio screen can flicker because of:
#1. low battery voltage
#2. bad ground connection
#3. Interference from other car’s electronic devices
#4. Disrupted connectors between the radio and screens
#5. Damaged dimmer on the radio
#6. Faulty LCD or blacklight
How to Repair a Car Radio Touch Screen That Is Unresponsive?
There are a few things you can try to fix an unresponsive touch screen:
#1. Clean the screen with a soft, dry cloth.
#2. Remove any fingerprints or smudges with a mild glass cleaner.
#3. Make sure the screen is free of any dirt or debris.
#4. Try a hard reset by turning off the radio and then pressing and holding the power button for 30 seconds.
#5. If the touch screen is still unresponsive, take the radio to a professional for further diagnosis.
Why does the Android Head Unit Has Power but No Display?
When the Android car stereo is functional, but the screen does not work, it means your screen’s backlight is not powered.
This can be caused by several things:
#1. A blown fuse
#2. A faulty wire connection
#3. A problem with the LCD itself.
The first thing you should do is check all the fuses in your car and replace any that are blown. If fuses are okay, there may be a problem with the circuits’ screen panel or solder connections.
In that case, you will need to take your car to a mechanic or electronic specialist to have it checked out.
Why Is Pioneer Radio Touch Screen Not Working?
Screens in Pioneer car stereos often stop working due to a blown fuse or loose wires.
In some cases, the faulty screen may need to be replaced.
If the screen in the Pioneer radio is not working, check the fuse to see if it needs to be replaced. If that doesn’t work, try resetting the display by pressing and holding the power button for 20 seconds.
Why Is Subaru Touch Screen Not Working?
When the display in Subaru cars stops working, you can reset it by pressing and holding the power button, tune/scroll button, and the CD Eject button together for about 20 seconds.
If resetting the radio does not solve the problem, there might be something wrong with the fuse or the wiring. In that case, you’ll need to take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out.
In rare cases, the problem might be with the radio itself; if that happens, you will need to replace it.
Why Is Ford Radio Display Not Working?
If the factory Ford radio’s screen is not working, but the radio works, it could be due to a blown lighting panel or a problem with the soldered connections in the head unit.
Another possibility is that the touch screen display is not working because it needs to be recalibrated. You can do a hard reset by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it after a few minutes.
If none of these solutions works, you will need to take your car to a mechanic or Ford dealership to have them look at it.
Why Is Nissan Screen Not Working?
When Nissan’s infotainment or Nissan Connect screen goes blank, it is often due to the software used in Nissan’s proprietary Connect system.
To reset the screen in Nissan, perform a reset of the Uconnect:
#1. First, locate the power and tune scroll buttons on either side of the digital display.
#2. Next, press both simultaneously and hold down for 10-15 seconds. The display will power off and then reboot.
#3. Wait for the Nissan logo to reappear to finish rebooting; after rebooting, the digital display should be restored.
If resetting the Nissan radio does not work, there may be an issue with the faulty wiring connections behind the head unit and blown fuses.
Why Is VW Touch Screen Not Working?
If your Volkswagen’s radio touch screen is not working, the first thing you should do is reset the display. To do this, press and hold the power button and the volume button at the same time for about 20 seconds.
If that doesn’t work, there might be something wrong with the fuse or the wiring.
In that case, you’ll need to either remove the radio from the dash and use the voltmeter to check the wiring or take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out.
Why Is Mercedes Radio Display Not Working?
If you have a Mercedes-Benz with COMAND (NTG4) navigation, there may be different reasons why the display is not working.
One reason could be that the map disc is not inserted correctly or is damaged. Another possibility is that the fuse for the COMAND system has blown.
To fix the issue with COMAND, you will need to take your car to a Mercedes dealership or authorized repair shop.
If the problem is with the fuse, you can try replacing it yourself. The fuse for the COMAND system is usually located in the car’s trunk.
Why Is BMW Stereo Display Not Working?
If your BMW radio display is not working, the first thing to check for is a blown fuse. Unlike in most cars, fuses in BMWs are usually located in the car’s trunk.
Another possibility is that the power or ground wire is not connected correctly or is damaged.
If you have a BMW with iDrive, there may be different reasons why the display is not working.
One reason could be that the map disc is not inserted correctly or is damaged. Another possibility is that the fuse for the iDrive system has blown.
What Are the Most Common Car Radio Problems?
In addition to the screen issues, there are other common car radio problems:
#1. The Stereo won’t turn on (blown fuse or wiring issue)
#2. Irregular turning off (power or ground connection problem)
#3. Display and sound turning off/on together (lack of power to head unit)
#4. Turning off while driving (loose connector at the head unit)